Titans prove too strong for Leicester Warriors

Titans under-13s boys took on Leicester Warriors, who had previously enjoyed huge success last season.

Titans got underway through Sam Grant as they went on an 8-2 run, Warriors struggled with the Titans’ defensive intensity and were hit with another run of 22-1.

Warriors could not keep Dane Carr or Jacob Cirtanutas off the boards nor contain Diarra Layne getting to the basket, and with the half-time score 55-13 the result was not in question.

Titans’ defence was key as easy scores were the Titans’ reward from that and the game also enabled the younger Titans to gain valuable court experience. Titans won the game 125-36.

The staggering stat for the Titans was no less than seven players made double figures.

Leicester Riders 23 Northamptonshire Titans 69

Titans’ under 14 Girls took on National League newcomers, Leicester Riders.

Titans’ pressure defence took its toll on Riders as a fast-break execution was clinical with Hannah Bird and Frankie Patmore finding their way to basket.

With a 25-1 Titans lead, Riders where looking at a very long afternoon, but full credit to them they dug in deep and employed a more physical presence which enabled them to keep Titans to just 10 points in the second quarter.

Titans in the second half regained the momentum in the final two periods to run out winners.

Top scorers for Titans were Patmore with 22 and Bird with 11.

Northamptonshire Titans 47 Bracknell Cobras 106

An understrength Titans struggled again against a one-man dominated team as Cobras’ James Fettes scored 73 points to which the inexperienced Titans squad could not find an answer.

Sampresz Dixon did lead the response with 11 points in a positive personal performance, Cameron Samuels scored nine and PJ Preston chipped in with six.

Northamptonshire Titans 101 Sheffield Junior Sharks 104

A thrilling contest between two evenly matched teams needed an overtime period to finally decide the winner.

The high-scoring game was played at breakneck speed throughout all four periods and each team managed to score more than 20 points in each of the quarters.

Transition defence went out of the window as each team scored fast-break basket after basket.

It was Titans that managed to take a narrow lead into the half-time break 44-42.

The third quarter began in similar fashion to the first two periods, but the home side suffered a crushing blow when they lost the services of influential captain Elliott Farrar after he had to leave the game with an ankle injury.

The Yorkshire side had a chance to win the game in regulation when they missed two free throws which meant the game would need an extra period to determine the victors.

Missed shots and some costly turnovers cost Titans dear as they just came up short against a talented Sheffield side.

Five players managed to get into double figures for Titans, led by the outstanding Hayden Alcindor with 40 points and 12 rebounds, ably supported by Keenan Salmon 15, Ramario Spence 14, Setemi Omoyeni 12 and Trei St Vie Hutchinson 10.

Team Birmingham 95 Northamptonshire Titans 38

Titans’ under 14 Boys travelled to Birmingham for their second game of the season but were unable to contend with the class and experience of a well drilled Birmingham side.

Titans quickly fell behind in the first quarter 24-5. and although they continued to battle away, things soon got worse when captain Zach Frost was forced to retire with a broken thumb.

The game finished aggressively as Sam Grant won a technical after being elbowed, Dane Carr received a blow to the head and Diara Layne required treatment following a knock to his arm.